Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Processing Equipment

Lithium-ion battery recycling has become one of the most critical segments in modern waste-to-resource industries. As electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and energy-storage systems grow rapidly, the amount of end-of-life batteries increases at an unprecedented rate. The recycling process focuses on safely extracting valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and aluminum, while preventing hazardous pollution caused by improper disposal.

The recycling workflow generally begins with battery collection and classification. Once received, batteries are discharged using controlled electrolyte-neutralizing equipment to eliminate the risk of thermal runaway. Mechanical shredding is the next step. Machines like lithium-ion battery shredders, hammer mills, and inert-atmosphere metal crushers reduce batteries into small fragments under controlled temperature to prevent explosions. After shredding, the material stream passes through magnetic separators, air classifiers, and sieving machines to divide plastics, current collectors, and black mass.

Black mass—rich in cobalt, nickel, lithium, and graphite—is further processed using hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical systems. Hydrometallurgy uses chemical leaching and precipitation tanks to isolate high-purity metals. Pyrometallurgy uses high-temperature furnaces to melt and separate metal alloys.

The future of lithium-ion recycling equipment centers on automation, dust containment, solvent recovery technology, and full-loop systems to ensure high purity and minimal environmental impact.